Restaurant Management Blog

Welcome to our free online resources for restaurant and bar owners. Here you will find tips, tricks and valuable information about how to start a restaurant or grow your existing business. We hope you enjoy these articles. If you do, please SHARE these resources with your friends! We update frequently, so check back often!

Latest Posts

Business Planning

Choosing the Right Restaurant Business Structure: A Comprehensive Comparison For Startup Restaurants

When starting a restaurant, one of the first and most important decisions you’ll need to make is which legal structure you’ll choose for your business. Your restaurant’s business structure will impact everything from taxes and to personal liability and growth potential. To help you choose the best option, this easy-to-follow...

Management & Operations

Build a Winning Restaurant Team: How to Hire Great Front and Back of House Staff

In today’s highly competitive restaurant industry, having a strong and cohesive staff is paramount to your business’s success. The hiring landscape has evolved significantly, with a greater emphasis on not just technical skills, but also cultural fit, emotional intelligence, and the ability to adapt to rapidly changing customer demands and...

Business Planning

Make Your Restaurant Instagram-Worthy: A Guide to Creating Remarkable Dining Experiences

In an era where consumers are inundated with dining options, the ability of some restaurants to create unique and remarkable experiences has become a critical differentiator contributing to their success. As social media platforms and online review sites have amplified the impact of word-of-mouth recommendations, delivering an exceptional dining experience...

Business Planning

Learn Top Restaurant Interior Design Secrets: How to Balance Practicality and Art

In the hyper-competitive hospitality industry, a restaurant’s front-of-house design is much more than mere aesthetics; it’s a potent tool that can profoundly shape the entire dining experience. From the moment guests cross the threshold, the ambiance, layout, and sensory elements work in synergy to create an immersive environment capable of...

Business Planning

The Psychology of Effective Design: Best Practices for Print and Online Restaurant Menus

An enticing menu is a powerful marketing tool that can significantly impact your restaurant’s success. In today’s digital age, having both an attractive online menu and a well-designed print menu is crucial. This guide explores psychological principles to help you craft menus that captivate customers across digital and physical formats,...

Business Planning

The Easy Way to Write a Killer Restaurant Business Plan That Investors Will Love

You’ve been dreaming about it for years – to open your own restaurant. You have a clear vision, but how do you translate it into a blueprint for action? That’s where the restaurant business plan comes in. Writing your restaurant business plan is invaluable, because it helps you discover nuances...

Marketing & Promotions

The Secret Of Brand Impact: How To Leverage Authentic Marketing As An Independent Restaurant Owner

Whether you’re a seasoned restaurateur looking to revitalize your brand or a newcomer embarking on a new venture, this guide will walk you through the process of creating an authentic, compelling brand that resonates with your target customers. As an independent restaurant owner, your brand is the face and personality...

Business Planning

The How and Why of Starting an LLC for Restaurants: A Comprehensive White Paper To Answer All Your Questions

Forming a Limited Liability Company (LLC) is often the best choice for individual restaurant owners and restaurant partners. LLCs provide liability protection, flexibility, and easier access to financing compared to sole proprietorships or partnerships. This guide will walk you through the key considerations and steps to form an LLC for...

Management & Operations

Put An End To The Revolving Door: 7 Proven Strategies Restaurants Can Use To Improve Employee Retention

Employee retention is one of the most significant challenges facing the restaurant industry today. With an overall churn rate of 73% in 2022, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, restaurants struggle to maintain a stable and experienced workforce. High turnover can have far-reaching consequences, impacting operations, customer service, employee...

Management & Operations

Restaurant Employee Harassment is no joke! Create an Emotionally and Physically Safe Environment for Your Team

As a restaurant owner or manager, one of your top priorities should be fostering a positive, respectful workplace culture. Unfortunately, the restaurant industry has long grappled with pervasive issues of harassment, bullying, and discrimination. These toxic behaviors not only harm employees’ well-being and morale but can also severely impact your...

Management & Operations

Take Tableside Ordering To The Next Level: How Successful Restaurants Increase Sales & Tips With Wireless Tablets

Nothing compares to the level of care and attention a committed server provides to guests in a full service restaurant. The latest advances in POS technology equip servers to provide an even higher level of service and attention, while streamlining steps in the dining experience. In this article, let’s compare...

Business Planning

Mastering Inventory Management: 5 ways to Unlock the Potential of Your Restaurant's Performance

The modern business world has embraced intelligent automation and digital systems. Restaurant owners should mindful not to get left behind. New and established restaurants can benefit immensely from advanced, low-cost computer systems to streamline operations. One of the most important and frequent routines to ensure your business is profitable is...

Management & Operations

Reality Check: Understand These Principles Before You Consider Opening a Restaurant

So, it’s your dream to own a restaurant? Maybe it’s a shaded outdoor cafe, a corner sandwich shop, a bustling brew-pub or the next Michelin Star experience? Owning a restaurant may seem glamorous, but the reality is it requires major personal and financial sacrifices. This post provides an honest look...

Business Planning

It's Data, Not Magic: Every Food-Cost Management Secret Today's Restaurant Owner Needs To Know

Running a successful restaurant entails juggling various responsibilities, from providing exceptional customer service to maintaining quality in culinary offerings. Among these tasks, managing food costs stands out as a critical challenge faced by restaurant owners. In this guide, we delve into the intricacies of food cost management, offering insights and...

Business Planning

Master Your KPIs: A Comprehensive Guide To The Restaurant Numbers That Matter Most

In the fast-paced world of restaurant management, success is more than just delicious cuisine and welcoming ambiance. It’s also about harnessing the power of data to make informed decisions. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are the compass guiding restaurateurs to drive profitability and sustain the business. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll...

Business Planning

New or Established Restaurant? Don't Neglect These Tips For Accurate Sales Projections

For current restaurant owners and entrepreneurs looking to open a restaurant, having a firm grasp on sales projections is vital for long-term profitability and growth. Whether you’re a seasoned restaurateur or just starting out, accurate forecasting can mean the difference between thriving and barely surviving. In an industry known for...

Business Planning

How Much Will It Cost? A Restaurant Startup's Guide to Estimating Initial Costs and Getting to ROI

If you want to open a restaurant you need to figure out how much it’s going to cost. And if you are working on your business plan or want to entertain investors, you need to calculate the estimated return on investment (ROI). In this guide we will tackle both subjects:...

Management & Operations

Training Your New Servers Right: 10 Industry Best Practices to Make Waiting Tables Painless

Waiters and waitresses are the lynchpin that holds together the full-service dining experience. They are the face of your restaurant and the primary determining factor in whether a guest dines with you again. What is Expected from a Restaurant Server? In a table-service setting, the servers play a crucial role...

Business Planning

A Beginner's Guide To Understanding Restaurant Financial Statements for the Non-Accountant

If you’re running a restaurant or plan to open one, you need to be able to read the four basic financial statements used in all businesses. This simplified guide will teach you: What each of the financial statements are. Why they are important information about the business. How to read...

Business Planning

Don't Get Stuck! How to Choose The Perfect Location For Your New Restaurant

Opening a new restaurant is an exciting venture, but choosing the right location is critical to your success. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the key factors to consider, from demographics and accessibility to lease negotiations and cost projections, ensuring you make an informed decision that sets your business...

Management & Operations

Selling Liquor 101: Learn Exactly What It Really Takes To Serve Alcohol in Your Restaurant

With the promise of great margins and happy customers, more restaurants are interested in serving alcohol. This short guide will clue you in on what you need to know before you commit to selling beer, wine or spirits in your restaurant. Topics to Cover: If serving alcohol is right for...

Business Planning

How To Fund Your Dream of Starting A Restaurant

So you’re planning to open a restaurant, and you’re working out your business plan. Now you’ve come to the part where you list your funding sources. In this guide we will cover the many ways, both traditional and modern, that you can use to you can fund your restaurant startup...

Management & Operations

Run Your Kitchen Like Clockwork: The Essential Strategies Of Effective Restaurant Kitchen Management The Pros Use

For any restaurant to achieve success, efficient and well-run kitchen operations are absolutely essential. The kitchen is the heartbeat of the business, responsible for executing the menu, controlling food costs, and ensuring superior quality and consistency for guests. Effective kitchen management requires a multi-faceted approach that covers everything from staff...

Management & Operations

Evict Unwanted Diners! Pest Control Solutions Every Restaurant Owner Needs to Know Before Their Next Health Inspection

In the restaurant industry, maintaining a clean and pest-free environment is crucial for the success and reputation of any establishment. According to the National Restaurant Association, a staggering 90% of pest infestations occur in commercial facilities, including restaurants. This alarming statistic underscores the importance of implementing effective pest control strategies...

Management & Operations

How to Pass Your Next Restaurant Health Inspection: What to Expect & How To Handle Failure

Restaurants and bars are subject to periodic surprise health inspections by local authorities. Failing an inspection can have serious consequences, from damaging your reputation to fines and temporary closures. As a restaurant owner or manager, it’s crucial to understand the health code standards, common violations, and proactive steps to ensure...

Management & Operations

Do You Know The True Cost Of Food Waste? A Practical Guide For Restaurants To Recover Profits and Improve Ecology

Behind the kitchen doors of restaurants nationwide, roughly a quarter of the food prepped and portioned gets tossed in the trash. For a typical 200 seat establishment, that can translate to $200,000 or more in ingredients wasted annually. Food waste presents both an economic and sustainability challenge to the foodservice...

Management & Operations

Put Your Phone Away! How to enforce effective restaurant staff cell phone policies that work.

Is cell phone use out of control in your restaurant? Are customers being ignored, mistakes being made and overall service degrading due to distracted workers? Do staff members become confrontational when told to put away their phones? This article will provide you with a practical cell phone policy to combat...

Business Planning

The Essential Guide to Restaurant Insurance: What New Restaurateurs Need To Know

As a restaurant owner or manager, protecting your business from potential risks and liabilities is crucial. Restaurant insurance provides a safety net against unforeseen events that could financially cripple your establishment. This guide will help you understand the importance of restaurant insurance, the different types of coverage available, and how...

Management & Operations

Training For New Hosts: 10 Industry Best Practices to Make Guests Feel Welcome

The host or hostess is the first person customers interact with when arriving at your restaurant. They play a crucial role in creating a positive first impression and setting the tone for the entire dining experience. What Is Expected from a Restaurant Host? The role of hosts and hostesses is...

Management & Operations

Do You Know How Your Servers Should Dress? A Restaurant Manager's Guide to Crafting An Inclusive Dress Code

In today’s diverse workforce and dining landscape, it’s essential for restaurant managers to craft a grooming and dress policy that promotes professionalism while being inclusive and sensitive to individual preferences and identities. This guide aims to provide a framework for creating a policy that strikes a balance between maintaining high...

Business Planning

How to Start Your First Restaurant: 7 Essential Tips for Success

Opening a restaurant offers many advantages as a small business. The lower startup costs, availability of loans, the ability to create a welcoming space for others and the freedom to work for yourself and be totally in control is certainly attractive to many future business owners. However, running a restaurant...

Management & Operations

Are Animals Allowed in Restaurants? Know Your Rights, Responsibilities and Best Practices Regarding Service Animals for the Disabled

As a restaurant owner or manager, you may have encountered situations where patrons attempt to bring animals into your establishment, claiming they are service animals or emotional support animals. However, it’s crucial to understand the legal distinction between these two categories. While the presence of animals in a food service...

Management & Operations

10 Things You Can Do To Help Make Disabled People Feel More Welcome In Your Restaurant

As a restaurant owner or manager, ensuring your establishment is accessible and welcoming to disabled patrons is not only the ethical choice, but it enhances customer satisfaction, loyalty and your brand’s reputation. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) sets minimum requirements for equal access, but going above and beyond can...

Business Planning

30 Keys To Mastery: Top Restaurant Management Skills To Improve Your Success In The Industry

Whether you’ve just landed a promotion to restaurant manager or you planning to start your own restaurant, mastering these 30 skills will turn you into a formidable, unstoppable machine in the restaurant industry. 1. Always lead by example. Hard work and integrity should characterize your management style. Eagerly jump into...

Management & Operations

Right Under Your Nose: How To Stop Restaurant Employee Theft Before It Bleeds You Dry

In the restaurant industry, employee theft can be a significant drain on your bottom line. According to a recent study by the U.S. Department of Commerce, the average restaurant loses an estimated 4% of its annual revenue due to employee theft. That’s a staggering figure, especially when you consider the...

Management & Operations

A Restaurant Manager's Guide to Creating and Enforcing an Effective Drug & Alcohol Policy

The restaurant industry faces a pervasive challenge with substance abuse. Studies show that restaurant workers have some of the highest rates of substance use, with 35% reporting heavy alcohol use and 17% using illicit drugs - nearly double the national averages. This can lead to serious safety concerns, decreased productivity,...

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